A/N: Whoot, already getting good reviews!
THE WINNERS ARE THREE!
Marauder Heir was the first, but HiddenByFaeries had a better detailed Review, and magical fan 18 had even MORE detail. Therefore, all THREE of you get characters! YAY!
Also AmaltheaLuchiaAizen is now my Beta.
After this chapter, there you go, so, yeah…
R&R!
Rage: We really do need more…We need to come up with more contest thingies.
Wizard: Totally.
Harry: (Nods)…I want a taco…
Rage & Wizard: Ooh! ME FIRST! (Glare at one another)
Giovanni: (Sigh) Immature children.
"Talking"
"Pokémon Talking"
Thinking
"PokeDex Talking"
"PokeGaze Talking"
"Egg-Reader Info"
Chapter Twenty-One
"So you weren't spying on our Training?" The woman, whose name was Liza, asked Harry and his friends as they all sat on a picnic blanket, eating some foot while the Pokémon played nearby.
"No, ma'am," The Tricksters immediately denied, shaking their heads as they paused in their eating. The green-haired woman had informed them, when she'd stalked towards them with her personal Charizard, Charla, after Oridina's big fight, that they had no right to be spying on her and stealing her techniques. Blue eyes spitting fury, she had demanded to know why she shouldn't have all the Charizard's in the Charicific Valley (the Valley they were in at that moment) fry them all to a crisp before they flew them to the nearest Officer Jenny to deal with. Harry had summed up their feelings in a single word.
"…Wha?"
Okay, maybe not a word, exactly.
Well, after spending ten minutes assuring the woman that no, they were not spying, despite how awkward and shifty they may have looked, peeking over the Valley lip suspiciously, she was only just beginning to believe them. Or, at least give them the benefit of the doubt.
"For the last time," Ric said, annoyed and barely hanging on to his temper (something Harry and the others appreciated, considering the volatile Pokémon that they were surrounded by). "We were not, nor were we ever, spying on you! We were on our way to Azalea Town, saw the Charizard Rock, wanted to get closer, walked over here, saw the Valley, and then you decided to kidnap us. That's it, that's all, end of story, though hopefully not literally." Huffing, he slouched down and took an irritated bite of his bologna sandwich. Thad, Lyn, and Harry shared a look, before shrugging, and biting into their own sandwiches.
"Harry?" Oridina interrupted before Liza could say anything, a large, brown messenger bag held in her claws. How did I miss that? Harry wondered, taking it from her when she held it out, before she cast a side-ways glance of faint irritation towards Rusty, who, while no longer charred, was bandaged and seemingly intent on having her as his… Harry narrowed his eyes at the male Charizard and let out a low, warning growl that earned him a startled look from the nearby Charizards that heard it, a blush from Oridina, and worried looks from the humans.
"Trying to court my baby girl," he muttered as he opened the heavy, Charizard-sized messenger bag. "Without asking my permission, and after the stunt he pulled? Rusty, you better check yourself before I dump you in a lake," he ordered, glaring darkly at the rust-colored Pokémon. Huffing, the psychic pulled two medium-sized, thin boxes from the bag, along with one small box, and two letters. Setting the boxes aside, he took up the letters first.
One was addressed To Harry, with a Diglett Envelope (a pale brown envelope with Diglett in the corner). It was a little larger then normal, and, by the feel of it, had more then just a letter in it. The other was addressed To Mr. Morsinger, with a Ponyta Envelope (an orange envelope with a small picture of a Ponyta rearing on one side and a trail of hoof prints on the other). Humming, Harry decided to open the Diglett Mail first, and carefully tore it open, dumping the contents cautiously out on his lap.
A folded piece of lavender paper, eight pictures, two packets of what looked like fur, and a necklace with a fang on it fell into his lap. Curiously, Harry lifted the necklace and peered at it. The rope was thin by strong and black, and the fang, a sharp, curved thing, had some gold runes painted on it. Smiling faintly, Harry put it on. Picking up the pictures next, he looked through them curiously, and a smile lit up his face.
They were pictures of Erika and Giovanni with various plants and Pokémon, and one of the two of them snuggled up together, asleep, in the back of the limo, most likely taken by Max the Driver. They were pictures from dates his dad and the Perfume Mistress had gone on since Harry had left. It seemed that, even with his research, Giovanni still made time for Erika, something for which Harry was immensely glad.
Handing the pictures to Lyn so she could coo over them and show her brother and Thad, Harry unfolded the letter, glanced through it, and, smiling, began to read out loud:
"Dear My Beloved Perfume Protégé,
"I hope this finds you happy, healthy, and amongst good company. While I myself am having a fine time gathering ingredients for my own perfumes and spending time with both my Pokémon and your father, I find that I truly miss your exuberant company. Near-daily I am pelted by Pokémon carrying requests for more of your perfumes, and I am also amongst your fans number.
"The gifts I've sent you will, hopefully, jog you into a perfume-making spree, as it is profitable for me as well when you're in one. The necklace is a fang from a Lapras, which an old jewelry-smith friend of mine inscribed with protection runes. I hope you like it. The two bags of fur, now, are especially for your Perfumes.
"The cream-colored, short fur is from a Togepi. No worries, darling, the babe was getting a haircut and her Trainer said I could keep the clippings." Harry paused and lifted the little baggy, eying the soft, downy-like fur inside, before setting it aside and continuing on. "The pink fur is from a Lickitung raised at Oak Labs. He was a rather charming little fellow, and I think you would have liked him very much.
"The second letter is from an associate of mine in Unova Region, just beyond Sinnoh, who is both a Pokémon Researcher and a Perfume Master. He is very interesting in speaking with you, so I hope you don't mind my passing his letter on to you. I didn't think you'd be comfortable with strange men calling your phone, after all! And your father wouldn't be happy if I handed it out, either!
"Alright, on to the boxes…Well, you'll just have to open them to see what is in them." Here, everyone laughed at the put-out look Harry was suddenly sporting. Pouting, Harry stuck his tongue out at his friends and Liza, and went back to reading. "The larger boxes have notes and such on what is inside them, and the little box is a simple enough thing to figure out, sweetheart. I hope you're having fun on your second Journey, and are staying safe and not getting into too much trouble.
"I miss you, and so does your father and Pokémon...
With Love and Affection,
Erika
Perfume Mistress
Gym Leader of the Celadon City Gym"
Folding the letter up, he slipped it carefully back into the Diglett Envelope and put it in his bag, putting the two little packets of fur to the side for the moment. Picking up the Ponyta Mail, he quickly, carefully tore it open, pulled out the pale orange paper, and began to read out loud.
"Dear Mr. Morsinger,
"You don't know me, and I seriously doubt you've heard of me as the circles we travel in are vastly different, but I have heard about you. My name is Adair Gregorio, and I am the top Researcher of Psychic Pokémon here in the Unova Region, as well as a Perfume Master in my own right. I work mostly in concentration boosting perfumes and perfumes' that deal with the mind, because of my specialty.
"It is because of this that I have contacted you. Frankly, Mr. Morsinger, your case fascinates me. Your powerful psychic abilities: telekinesis, the ability to speak with Pokémon, empathy. Pair them with your young age, and the control you've managed to garner in such a short period of time… It is truly remarkable!
"If it would be to your liking, it would please me if we could keep in contact with one another or, baring that, if you could visit me whenever you should find yourself in Unova, in the city of Accumula Town, I would appreciate a day or so of your time. We could discuss your powers, perfumes, and Pokémon.
"Sincerely,
Adair Gregorio
Psychic Pokémon Researcher
Perfume Master of Accumula Town"
"Huh, that's neat," Harry said thoughtfully, folding the letter and putting it in his bag with the other one.
"Open the box, Harry!" Ric ordered, shoving the smallest box into his friend's arms. Harry, rolling his eyes, complied, and all his friends (and his Pokémon) tried to gather close to peer in at the object inside. It was a blue picture frame. The inside was a blank, black screen. Curious, Harry lifted it from the box, and turned it over. There was a small Post-It note on the back.
"'Hit the button, Watch the Screen'," he read aloud in his fathers neat handwriting. Shrugging, Harry flipped the frame and hit the button, eyes on the screen. Instantly, the screen lit up with a picture of Harry and Giovanni, grinning at the camera. The picture faded and another popped up, this one a video of Harry and Giovanni battling. It ended with Harry and his friends grinning at the camera, laughing and Heather holding up a two-fingered peace sign.
The next picture was of Harry and all his Kanto Pokémon (before he left for Johto). That faded to a picture of Heather and Roger, arms around each other, and Heather once again doing the peace sign. The next picture was of Giovanni, fast asleep at his desk, and was a video as the camera turned to show a grinning Sarah, who winked and blew a kiss at the screen. Next picture was Mary and Charlie, fast asleep and slumped against either side of Marks Venusaur, Liekos, with Sarah's Ninetales, Felicia, and Mary's Raichu (Kiara) and her Metapod (Izzy), asleep around them and cuddled close. Scorch, Sarah's Charmeleon, was on his way to sleeping a foot away, clutching Mary's Rattata PokèDoll.
The next picture was of Brock and all his siblings. It faded to Misty and her Togepi, Staryu, and Starmie, waving and smiling (Misty and Togepi) at the camera. The next several pictures were of all the other Gym leaders and their Pokémon, all waving at him. It ended with Giovanni, leaning back in his chair, hand on Persian's head, and smirk in place. Then, words slid across the slowly blanking-to-blue-screen.
Good Luck Harry!
"Aw!" Lyn announced, snatching the small frame from the shiny-eyes boy and distracting everyone by watching the slideshow again. Harry scrubbed an arm quickly over his eyes to make sure that there were no tears, and turned to the next box, pulling it close while the others chatted about the pictures and reminisced.
Inside the box was a smooth, dark leather side-bag with Morsinger Perfumes etched into the front flap. Fascinated, Harry pulled it out, and un-clipped the flap, flipping it open. Inside was a neat, sectioned of (with hardened leather) areas. There were small and medium sized ziplock bags, plastic jars (WITH lids), glass jars, and labeling supplies (which were set in a little side pocket). All in all, it was everything one would need to gather ingredients for perfumes…and medicines, but, from the name on the front, Harry seriously doubted Erika was nudging him into the medical profession.
"That is so cool," Ric declared after Harry placed the two fur packets in a sectioned off area and passed the bag to his friends. Harry grinned at his friend and nodded, before snatching up the note that was at the bottom of the box.
"'Dear Harry,
"This is the latest in the Traveling Perfume Makers Kits. You can organize it any which-way you please, and may buy more supplies and personalize it through Perfume shops and normal stores. I hope you use it well, and immediately, dear.
"With love, Erika."
"Harry," Thad said, straight-faced. "I'm going to steal your adult friends." Harry's eyes widened in mock-horror.
"Noooooo!" he howled dramatically, lunging towards the other boy and tackling him to the ground, sending them rolling, laughing, off the picnic blanked and away. They bounced into the side of a sleeping Charizard, for which they apologized through giggles and got sleepily patted on the head.
"Stop playing, you two!" Lyn cried, holding up the second box. "I want to see what else Harry's grown-ups sent!" Still giggling, the two boys dusted one another off and padded back to the group, Harry yelping as Alysha swatted him on the head with her wing, giving him a disapproving look.
"That was childish and pointless," she informed him primly. Pirate grinned and gave him a double thumbs-up…And Alysha promptly smacked the Furret in the face with her wing without looking at him, making Donner and Del burst into giggles from where they were sitting on the back of a dozing Charizard, who Harry had learned, had once belonged to one Ash Ketchum.
"Gimme that!" Harry said, still grinning, and snatched the box from his female friend. Quickly, his friends and Liza and their Pokémon once more gathered 'round to pear into the box as he opened it…
And all of them gaped at the contents.
Evolution Stones, three each, of the fire, water, thunder, leaf, sun, and moon, all stacked and packed on top of one another in small pyramids. And one rock that looked strangely like a crown, which Liza and Thad identified as a King's Rock.
"Here's the note," Liza said, handing the eleven-year-old the sea-green paper. It was obvious that the Charizard Conservationist was interested in what it would say. Unfolding it, Harry read aloud.
"'Dear son,
"'I thought that these would come in handy, and, as I trust you far more then I do my incompetent Rockets, I have no doubt you'll put them to good use. I'd tell you not to forget to have fun, but with the friends you tend to gather, I seriously doubt you've ever stopped.
"'Never forget that I love you.
Your Dad,
Giovanni."
"You're dad is the coolest, Harry," Ric breathed; Lyn and Thad nodded. Harry's cheeks pinked but his chin lifted with pride. His dad was the coolest. Quickly, they set about putting the Evolution Stones and the King's Rock in Harry's bag, careful to put them in the areas where Donner and other Pokémon were unlikely to get them.
"Today is an awesome day," Harry declared, sitting down next to Oridina with a happy sigh, smiling as Donner skipped down Ash's Charizard's back over to him and hopped into his lap to snuggle. Alysha took to the sky to do a few aerial acrobatics with some Charizards, and Pirate was attempting to escape the female Charizard Liza called 'Ruby' (a deep, jewel-tone red colored Pokémon with equally red eyes) who had decided that 'the handsome fluffy' was hers to "play" with.
"It would be hard for it to be better," Lyn agreed; Ric snorted and disagreed immediately.
"We could be in Azalea," he countered. "We could have found the world's largest gold nugget. We could have landed in a valley filled with wild, rare Pokémon who all wanted us to be their Trainers. Hundreds of things could happen that could have or would have made today better. Not getting kidnapped for mistaken spies would have been one of them," he remarked dryly; Harry rolled his eyes.
"Let it go, already!" He exclaimed. "It was a mistake, an honest mistakefor crying out loud! Ric-" he was interrupted, though, by a familiar chiming from Ric's bag, and a clear, cheerful voice…
"Egg-Reader Activated!" it chirruped happily. "Full Fetal Growth Reached! Congratulations, your Pokémon egg is about to hatch!" Everyone just froze for a second, staring blankly at the bag, before Ric scrabbled madly over to it, struggled to open it, and barely managed to pull his now-steaming egg out just before the cracks started. Quickly, he removed the Egg-Reader and tossed it half-hazardly to Lyn, setting the scalding egg on the Picnic blanket.
Just in time, too, because, as he was blowing on his burnt fingers, shaking them out, cracks snapped along the eggs entire surface. It shivered once, hard, before the shell exploded outward in a burst of flames.
"Shrapnel!" Harry yelped, ducking with Donner behind Oridina's wing as razor-sharp shell-fragments shot in every direction. Most everyone but Ric managed to hide behind the Charizard's armor-like-and-fire-proof-hides. Ric, who was closest to the egg, though, cried out as he through up his arms to guard his face. Fragments peppered his arms, tore holes in his shirts, and made blood ooze, but, as soon as it was clear, he dropped his arms and stared in eager wonder at his baby Pokémon. Harry and the others crept cautiously out of hiding as he began to coo.
"Guys?" He called out softly, looking over at them, baby-Pokémon in his arms, and a soft smile on his face. "Meet Cyndie. My little girl." The small, anteater-like Pokémon peered at them through squinted eyes. Her underbelly was a dark, honey color, with the top half of her being a dark green, peppered in cream-colored speckles. Four large, red ovals were on her back, and smoke rose from them faintly. Harry pulled out his PokèDex and aimed it at the burbling, gurgling baby Pokémon as Ric cooed and rocked her.
"Cyndaquil, a fire-type Pokémon," it told him simply. "When frightened or angry, the circles on its back spout flames that can reach up to one thousand degrees Fahrenheit. A gentle Pokémon, Cyndaquil prefers to retreat or dodge rather than full-on attack its opponents." So, that was that, one of the good things to make a better day better.
Cyndie the Cyndaquil, welcome to the Trickster family, Harry thought, smiling as he watched his friend rock his Pokémon.
A/N: There you Go! THE EGG HAS HATCHED! YAYNESS SQUARED! Now, please R&R!